Continuous underground pipe and method of making the same



(No Model.) l

C. DETRICK.

CONTINUOUS UNDERGROUND PIPE AND METHOD OE MAKING TEE SAME. NO. 245,284. Patented'Aug. 9,1881.

` Nrrn STATES raten.

PATENT CONTINUOUS UNDERGROUND PIPE AND METHOD 0F MAKING THE SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,284, dated August 9, 1881.

Application filed May 23, 1881.

\ To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, CALVIN Darmon, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Continuous Underground Pipes and in Methods of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My inven relates to such tubing, pipes, or underground conduits or passages as are employed for purposesof drainage, sewerage, water-supply, gas-supply, inclosure of electric, telegraphic, or telephonie wires, pneumatic, hydraulic, or other kindred uses.

The object of the invention is the construction of a wholly continiious composite pipe embodying one or a series ofxseamless hermetically-tight ducts or passage-ways, adapted, by virtue of the method of its construction,to be formed of any required length, and to be constituted of suitable plastic or readily-molded duid or semi-fluid material, adapted to solidify into a rigid and impervious mass of the predetermined configuration and arrangement.

To lthe above ends myinvention consists in the method of laying and forming continuous pipe, hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation, a trench in which, in its successive stages, is being conducted my method ot' laying pipe. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and, 10 represent, in transverse sectional elevation,views across the trench of Fig. 1, taken, respectively,on dotted lines of Fig. l marked with numerals corresponding to those of the several sectional views referred to, the said cross -sectional views referred to, taken in connection with Fig. l, representing, as fully as is possible by means of pictorial illustrations,the method by which my'pipe is formed and laid. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a convenientform of die adapted to form the passages to the shape indicated-for instance, in Figs. 7 to 10 of the drawings. Fig. ll is a transverse central sectional elevational view of a slightlymodified form of what I term the slabi Fig. 12, a similar view of the same, representing a construction in which the slab is provided with longitudinallyextending tongues, designed to form or to register within corresponding grooves in the substance of thelayer of asphalt-concrete, or other material in which the ducts or passages are formed, and Fig.

(No model.)

13,a transverse sectional view of a convenient form ot' joint, where it is desired to form the slab in separate parts and unite the parts.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My pipe is laid and madein the following lnallllel.

A trench,a, is first dug in the ground to the required depth, and in the required direction from the point of departure of the intended pipe to the point at which such pipe is to terininate.

The bottom of the trench is preferably leveled, as indicated at Fig. 2, and on line 2 2 of Fig. l. This leveling is effected by any convenient mean's.

After the trench has been formed and leveled as above, it is, if desired, suitably hardened-as, for instance, by pressure, percussion, or impact, unless the consistency of the ground renders such hardening unnecessary. The bott-om of the trench is vthen supplied with a walled layer or trough, b, as l find it convenient to term the formation of artificial stone, as indicated at Fig. 3 and at line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

This trough b maybe formed in anydesired manner-that is to say, it may either be constructed by the laying upon the door of the trench of blocks of artificial stone or kindred hard material or else by the liowing of plastic material upon said door and its subsequent molding thereon into the forni represented in Fig. 3 of the drawings-that is to say, as a longittulinalIy-extending base provided with side walls bx; or, again, this trough may be previouslyformedin sections and subsequently laid in place in the trench.

When the trough has been laid as above and is hard it is then lled, or nearly filled, with such soft or plastic iiuid or semi-Huid material as itis desired to form the passage or passages in, as represented at c in Fig. et and at line 4 4, Fig. 1, such material being preferably asphalt-concrete, although many other 'substances adapted to subsequently solidify Into the substance f will answer the purpose. of this layer by any suitable die, stamping device, or other means is then impressed Jthe form of the passages or ducts d, as represented in Fig. 6, and at line G G, Fig. 1. l have devised the die s represented in Fig. 5 as a convenient means of forming these ducts. It-is to be understood that one or a series of these IOO IOS

ducts is to be formed in the layer, according to the proportions desired. In the drawings, as aconvenient number, I have represen ted three.

Theimpress of the form of the ducts is to be made before the layerhardens. After the layer has hardened to the required extent a slab or covering of artificial stone, e, Fig. 7, and line 7 7, Fig. 1, hardened asphalt-concrete, glass, or other vitreous material, covered, it desired, with asphalt, iron, or wood, likewise coated or felted with asphalt, is to be superimposed upon the layer, preferably to the entire width of the trench, so as likewise to rest upon the walls of the trough to form a covering to the ducts.

In laying the slab it is preferable that the portions ot' the layer with which it is to he in contact should be hot, or otherwise be in a soft, plastic, or glutinous condition, so as to iusure the hern'letical inclosing of the ducts by the slab. After the slab has been thus laid the earth in the trench, when the slab is not level with the surface, is to be replaced upon it; or, if the trench is adeep one and it is so desired, a second trough, as indicated in Fig. S and at line S 8, Fig. 1, can be formed and laid, as described, upon the slab, a layerimpressed with ducts formed in said trough in the manner of the layer first above described, and a second slab or covering superimposed therenpomall as indicated in Fig. 9, and atline 9 9 ofFlg. 1, after which the earth f ofthe trench can be replaced upon the uppermost slab, as indicated in Fi". 10 and at line I0 10 ot' Fig. 1.

The composition ot' which the layer within the trough may be composed is, broadly speaking, any substance capable of being molded or impressed and adapted subseqnentlyto solidify in its impressed form.

Ihe trough, as stated, may be of any desired material, artificial stone or concrete compounds being well adapted to perform the functions sought for. A

fhen desired, the slab can be provided with grooves g, as represented in Fig. 11, correspondent to the ducts in the layer, so that when the slab is applied the ducts can be formed ot' an approximately circular section, or, in fact, of any section desired.

In Fig. 12 is represented a construction of slab in which dovetails or tongues h are pro vided to the slab, which are designed to be embedded in the substance of the layer, as represented.

In Fig. 13 is represented a convenientjoint, t', to be employed when the slab is `jointed either longitudinally or transversely. This joint is designed to be iilled with a luting of cement or other suitable material.

It will be obvious from the foregoing de scription that my method enables the continuous formation of a continuous seamless pipe provided with either one or a series of independent bores of any desired configuration. It will also be obvious that my pipe is adapted to be formed and laid below the ground in such position and relation thereto as it is designed that the pipe should permanent-ly occupy. It will likewise be obvious that alljoints and couplings are dispensed with, as, indeed, -are all handling and transportation of sections of pipe, myinvention providing a means whereby seamless pipe having one or many bores or ducts of any desired configuration and eXtension can be simultaneously manufactured and laid in position for its subsequent permanent use.

I am aware that pavements and other roadways have been constructed by superimposing upon a substratum ot' hardened bituminous bton laid direct in the ground and formed Awith sewers or large gutters, a series of slabs formed of cast-iron frames having cellsin which are fixed bituminous paving-stones or slabs, and which are provided with grooves or hollows for giving hold to horses feet, and with openings to drain the surface pavement into the sewers, andI to such structure I lay no claim, as it is essentially characteristic of my invention that there should iirst be formed within the earth-trench a walled layer or tro ug'h of artificial stone or kindred hard material, which receives the continuous mass of plastic material within which the ducts are formed and protects it from the earth by forming, in connection with the top covering, a hard and impervious envelope or integnment to the resulting pipe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- I. The method ot' forming continuous sca|nless pipe hereinbefore described, which consists, first, in excavating to the required depth, shape, and extent, and in the required direction a trench or channel in the ground, in which it is desired that a pipe should be laid; second, in progressively laying, constructing, or otherwise forming within said trench a walled layer or trough of artificial stone or kindred material; third, in progressively placing within said trough a layer, stratum, bed, or contin nous mass of plastic, fluid, semi-fluid, or kindred material adapted to subsequently solidify; fourth, in impressing in said layer, by any suitable means, one or more ducts or passageways5 fifth, in snl'ierimposing upon said layer, with its formed ducts, a slab or covering of artiticial stone, glass, or other vitreous material, coated lnetal, wood, or the like, all substantially as described.

2. A continuous seamless pipe formed ot' a walled layer or trough ot' artificial stone or kindred material, containing within its walls a layer, stratum, bed, or continuous mass ot' hardened plastic, fluid, semi-Huid, or kindred material, formed with ducts or passage-ways covered by a slab or other covering of artiticial stone or kindred material, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto signed my name this th day of May, A. l). 1881.

CALVIN DE'IRICK.

In presence ot'- J. BoNsALL TAYLOR, W. C. STRAWBRIDGE.

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